Search - Nick Brignola :: Raincheck

A seriously underrated CD by a seriously underrated player.

Kevin D. Goss | Peterborough, ON, Canada | 01/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first time I heard Nick Brignola was on a 3-bari album in the early 80's. I was immediately taken with his tone, his time, and his lines. I picked up everything he played, but was blown away on "New York Bound" when I heard what an amazing doubler Nick was. I wore out a lot of those records and was thriiled when he started recording for Reservoir; a fruitful musical partnership if ever there were one.The title tune sets the pace, demonstrating Nick's swing and fluidity, ascending into the altissimo and back to the bottom with ease. His clarinet playing on "Tenderly" is a revelation to anyone who wants to play the "black wand of doom". In Nick's hands it is a true modern jazz instrument, free of any dixieland conventions. Aside from Eddie Daniels, Buddy DeFranco, and Don Byron there is nobody playing bop clarinet like this (Phil Woods, alas, has put down his clarinet).Nick's baritone swings on "I Wish I knew", "Baubles, Bangles, and Beads", and his own "Hesitation Blues", for which he switches to tenor for the last half. His tender side is showcased on "My Ship" and "Darn that Dream", but there is no maudlin sentimentality here. Like DeNiro, Nick is vulnerable, yet tough, in his ballad work. He absolutely blisters on "Hurricane Connie".He puts his soprano chops to excellent use on "Jitterbug Waltz" and shows how good his modal skills on Ralph Towner's "North Star".Rudy Van Gelder uses a bit more reverb than I prefer, but you can't fault Nick's playing anywhere on this CD. The support of A-listers Kenny Barron, George Mraz, and Billy Hart propels this CD beyond some of Nick's earlier work where he was magnificent, but his rhythm sections didn't gel. Barron was the pianist on all of the subsequent Reservoir albums and it was a good match. hart and Mraz were the drummer and bassist of choice for Pepper Adams, so there's no arguing with that lineage. This is a must-have CD for fans of Brignola and fans of great jazz in general."

Solid!

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 08/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Brignola (bar/ss/ts/cl) Kenny Barron (p) George Mraz (b) Billy Hart (d) 9/88.



This is a terrific CD of modern-mainstream music done in a very swinging style. Brignola's baritone sax sound is tight and reedy, more like Pepper Adams than Gerry Mulligan. I like him best on the uptempo numbers, such as RAINCHECK and JOY SPRING, but especially on BAUBLES, BANGLES & BEADS, which swings through the roof. Barron, Mraz and Hart give excellent support. Brignola can also play pretty in a ballad setting as in MY SHIP. There is only one misstep here to my ears and that's NORTH STAR, but everything gives repeated enjoyment. Highly recommended."